News Release

The General Assembly of the European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA) have elected Karsten Langer, Partner of global private equity firm The Riverside Company, as its Chairman for the year to June 2012.

As Partner at Riverside since 2006, Mr. Langer leads the firm’s investment and portfolio management operations in the Benelux countries and France, having previously built the firm’s pan-European origination team. Earlier in his career he spent five years with GE Capital Europe, before joining M&A International, an independent corporate finance firm in Brussels, as Managing Partner. Mr Langer is an Economics graduate from Copenhagen Business School with a Master’s degree in Management from ESCP Europe and speaks six European languages.

Riverside, with its European headquarters in Brussels, acquires growing enterprises valued at up to €200 million. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has invested in over 250 transactions with a total enterprise value of more than €4.6 billion.

Mr Langer assumes the EVCA Chairmanship at a pivotal time for the industry. Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, the private equity industry has experienced worldwide efforts to implement additional regulatory measures. Mr Langer has been at the forefront of efforts to represent the private equity and venture capital industry with respect to The Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) Directive. As European regulation relating to private equity fundraising and investment proceeds, EVCA’s focus continues to be on helping lawmakers understand its impact on the industry and the economy, and it will extend to wider communications efforts, explaining to a wider audience the contribution private investment makes to fuelling economic growth.

“The past 10 years have seen private equity grow and mature – and at times it’s been a bumpy ride. But now is the time to move forward and recognise private equity investment as a key to achieving growth and reigniting the flame of new and thriving businesses throughout Europe. There is no substitute for the match of actively managed private sector capital with entrepreneurial energy. It must be harnessed, not hampered,” said Mr Langer.

Mr Langer as Chairman-elect has worked closely over the past months with outgoing Chairwoman, Uli Fricke, and the EVCA Secretariat, as well as other leaders of the industry.

The new Chairman’s other priorities include further increasing the industry’s unity by expanding the LP membership of EVCA. “We have come together successfully as an industry across Europe to argue our case for fair regulation over the past three years and this ‘one voice’ should now embrace more of our Limited Partners. Our investors, after all, know more of the detail of our industry’s individual investments and understand better than anyone how our activities support the pensions and investments of millions of citizens,” he added.

“I am honoured to be taking over the EVCA chairmanship at a time when many European economies need the regeneration that private investment offers. We will work to raise the understanding of the role that private equity and venture capital play in our societies and it is my ambition that, by the turn of this decade, private equity will be the essential facilitator of productivity and growth.”

European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA)
EVCA is the voice of European private equity and venture capital. We promote and protect the interests of our more than 1,000 members, to ensure they can conduct their business effectively. EVCA engages policymakers and promotes the industry among key stakeholders, including institutional investors, entrepreneurs and employee representatives. EVCA develops professional standards, research reports and holds professional training and networking events. EVCA covers the whole range of private equity, from early-stage venture capital to the largest buyouts.

The Riverside Company
The Riverside Company is a global private equity firm focused on acquiring growing enterprises valued at up to $200 million (€200 million in Europe). The firm partners with strong management teams and enhances its investments through acquisitions and organic growth. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has invested in more than 250 transactions with a total enterprise value of more than $5.4 billion/€4.6 billion. The firm’s portfolio in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region includes more than 75 companies with roughly 14,000 employees. Riverside completes acquisitions smoothly thanks to $3.4 billion/€2.7 billion in assets under management, more than 195 professionals in 19 offices, and longstanding relationships with partner lenders.